View report page

49
3. Laboratory Facilities.—Arrangements with Westminster Hospital
for the bacteriological examination of material from suspected cases of
tuberculosis, diphtheria, etc., continue. Special examinations of water,
milk or other food are made as occasion arises. The Chemical Research
Association carry out the bacteriological examinations of graded milk
under the Special Designations Order. The chemical analysis of food and
drugs is performed by the Council's two public analysts, one of whom,
Mr. Cribb, also undertakes the investigation of atmospheric pollution.
4. Legislation in Force.—No additions have been made to existing
local legislation during the year.
5. Hospitals.—This subject was fully discussed in last year's report,
details of the various hospitals in the City and the purposes for which
beds were allocated were furnished. As regards municipal hospitals,
these are under the control of the London County Council. One such
hospital is situated in the City, the Sheffield Street Hospital for pregnant
women suffering from venereal disease (52 beds), St. Stephens Hospital
(750 beds), formerly reserved for Westminster inhabitants, now receives
patients from a much wider area. As regards tuberculosis and infectious
diseases generally, Westminster patients, like those from other metropolitan
districts, are treated in one or other of the many hospitals of the
London County Council, some of which are in the County, while others
are in the neighbouring counties.
As has often been remarked, Westminster, with its 13 voluntary
hospitals, is the hospital centre of London. Beds number 1,225, and with
a population of only 129,535 (1931 census), it follows that voluntary
hospital accommodation is more than adequate for Westminster people.
It must be remembered, however, that into these hospitals are admitted
patients from all over London, and, in fact, from even remote parts of the
country.
Two recent features might be noticed. They are the extensive
developments and new building in progress at the Infants' Hospital,
Vincent Square. In view of the financial stringency prevalent at
the present time it was thought prudent to defer somewhat the original
scheme, but when finished, this hospital will afford a unique example
in this country, in that its purpose will not be confined to the
treatment of disease. With its ante-natal wards, maternity beds and
beds for nursing mothers and infants, it will mark a great departure in
preventive medicine—the care of mothers and infants during the most
precarious period of the latter's existence. To borrow an analogy from